The Dusi Canoe Marathon is not for the faint-hearted. Known as one of South Africa’s toughest endurance races, it pushes paddlers to their limits with punishing portages, technical rapids, and the relentless heat of the valley. For North-West University (NWU) students Craig Cribbins and Ethan Kleu, the 2026 Dusi was more than just a race. It was a test of character, resilience, and heart.

For Craig Cribbins, the Dusi is a challenge he keeps coming back to. “Having completed the race four times, I know exactly what it demands, but that doesn’t make it any easier,” he says. If anything, it is the difficulty that keeps calling him back.

Each year starts the same way, he says, with questions at the start line. Am I fit enough? Strong enough? Is everything right with the boat? But once the race begins, those doubts take a back seat. “It becomes about putting your head down and getting through it, one stretch of river at a time.”

Craig’s preparation speaks to his commitment. Months of training, early mornings, long paddles, and runs go into getting race ready. But even with all that preparation, the Dusi has a way of humbling you. A tough moment came on Day 2 when he capsized, damaging the boat and losing valuable time. It was a proper setback, both physically and mentally.

Still, in true Dusi fashion, there is only one way forward. With his partner, Georgie Howard, Craig dug deep and kept going. The pair showed real grit, finishing 71st overall with a time of 10:11:18. An achievement to be proud of in a race this unforgiving.

For Craig, representing NWU means a lot. It’s about more than just competing; it’s about building something bigger and hopefully inspiring others to take up canoeing. But ask him what stands out most, and it is not just the race, it is the people. The shared struggle, the laughs on the water, and the friendships that come out of it.

While Craig’s story is one of experience and persistence, Ethan Kleu’s journey is about stepping into something deeply personal.

A BCom graduate in Economic Sciences with International Trade, Ethan took on the Dusi as both a personal challenge and a legacy. Growing up in Pietermaritzburg, the race was always part of the local culture, something almost everyone knew about. With both his parents having completed it, the Dusi was always on his radar.

This year, he made it his own.

Balancing studies and training was no small task, but Ethan approached it with discipline. “Training became more than just preparation,” he says. “It was a way to reset, to get out on the water and clear my mind. And in between the pressure of academics

and the demands of the race, I found a rhythm that worked.” Standing at the start line, the reality of it all hit. There were nerves, of course, plenty of questions, and a healthy respect for what lay ahead. But there was also excitement, he was finally here.

“The race tested me in every way, especially during the long, tough second day and the final push across Inanda Dam, where the wind and fatigue make things properly challenging,” he says. “What made it even more meaningful, though, was sharing the journey with my father, who returned to the race after 15 years. Paddling side by side, it became more than just a race. It was a shared experience I’ll carry with me for life.”

Their goal was simple: finish. But the moment they entered Blue Lagoon and crossed the line, reality hit like a wave. They had done it. Every hour of training, every tough rapid, every moment of doubt had led to this triumph.

For Ethan, completing the Dusi was not just about ticking off a bucket list item. It shifted something. It built confidence, proved that he could push through doubt, and showed him that even the toughest challenges are possible with the right mindset.

Together, Craig and Ethan represent two sides of the same Dusi story: one of experience, the other of first-time achievement. But both speak to what makes this race so special, pushing through doubt, and finding out what you are truly capable of. It is about the highs and lows, the swims, the rapids, the long days on the river, and the moments of laughter and camaraderie that make it unforgettable.

Craig and Paddle partner Georgina Howard

  Ethan and his dad, Jon